As predicted in this blog, the White House scrambled today to change the subject with a hasty prime time announcement of a Supreme Court nominee. Its early in the process, but based on what I have seen, John Roberts could prove to be a real threat to civil rights, reproductive rights, privacy, separation of church and state, and the environment. Let me know your thoughts if you get a chance.

But the important lesson is that we not let the Supreme Court announcment distract us from the ongoing struggle to root out corruption and deception in the White House, by continuing our examinations of Rovegate, Downing Street, and the ongoing deception in Iraq. For example, there was an important article today in the American Prospect indicating that Rove may well have lied to the FBI -- a serious legal matter.

That is why we have scheduled the 8 town hall meetings on Downing Street and Rovegate around the country this weekend, to commemorate the 3d Anniversary of the DSM. I have also organized more than 200 house parties on DSM and Rovegate this Saturday, and just today mailed out DVD's and organizing materials to all of the Hosts. If interested in signing up to host or attend, just click here.

I for one will not be distracted. We have learned all to well that this Administration can and will manipulate the media to its advantage. However, its absolutely critical that we continue our work.

New York City Town Hall MeetingSponsored by The Nation and Democrats.com and Progressive Democrats of AmericaSpeakers: Congressman Maurice Hinchey, former Congresswoman Liz Holtzman, Air America Radio host Randi Rhodes, and as moderator President of Democrats.com Bob Fertik.New York Society for Ethical Culture2 W. 64th St.New York, NYDETAILS:http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/862

The DSMs -- recently leaked to the British media -- demonstrate that, one-year before the Iraq invasion, the Bush Administration knew that the evidence for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq was weak and that IRAQ POSED NO REAL THREAT. Nevertheless, the Bush Administration was already committed to war and intended to "FIX INTELLIGENCE AROUND THE POLICY".

Mr. Frank is a champion of progressive ideas in Congress, and an outspoken critic of the Bush Administration. He was among the first signers of Congressman John Conyer's petition calling on the President to be forthcoming about the information contained in the Downing Street Memos.

Mr. Bonifaz is a constitutional lawyer. In 2003 he challenged President George W. Bush's authority to wage war against Iraq in a federal lawsuit. Mr. Bonifaz is the author of the book "Warrior King: The Case for Impeaching George W. Bush." He is co-founder of a national campaign, AfterDowningStreet.org, calling for a full congressional investigation into whether the President has committed impeachable offenses in connection with the Iraq war.

Ms. Fox has been a State Representative for twenty years. She is a staunch supporter of justice, equality and public safety, as well as social, environmental, and economic justice. Ms. Fox will share her views on how the illegal Iraq War has harmed Boston and other cities because of the disproportionate impact of budget cuts on inner cities.

presented by Brookline PeaceWorks! co-sponsored by Boston Mobilization, Progressive Democrats of America, Pax Christi, Newton Dialogues on Peace and War and others

As past performance has shown, many SC Justices tend to temper their hard edges once they're behind the bench and no longer have to worry about accountability to their political masters. Even the most conservative of the current Supreme Court Justices have produced opinions that are not what the Far-Right had in mind.

I would council that the Democrats keep it low key and encourage the external groups to do the same. Express your doubts and concerns to the Media in a thoughtful way, make your major points in the hearings and floor debates, keep it low-key and clean in the Media, and save the vigorous stuff for the Plame and DSM affairs, which Bush hopes will go on the back-burner while Roberts goes on the front.

At this point, allow the outside groups to output data on Roberts (but encourage them to keep the discourse level...the Republicans will try to tie anything extreme to the Democrats), make public statements that judgement will be withheld until the hearings and debate (as it should be), and keep the pressure on the Plame affair and DSM. Do NOT let them pedagogue the SC issue to the top.

Bush desperately wants his opponents to focus on the Supreme Court and lay off the pressure on Rove, the Downing Street Memos and how he and his little gang of war criminals got us into this bloody mess to begin with.

prison where they belong, AND election reform (state/local level) are FIRST PRIORITIES. (--although I might switch these around, because election reform--getting control of our election system out of rightwing, Bushite hands, and getting transparency and verifiability in vote tabulation--is something we, the people, can and must do, while TreasonGate indictments are Fitzgerald's job, and Bush "pod people" in Congress couldn't care less about treason or any crime--a hard mountain to climb; all we can do is support Conyers, and do independent news and investigation.)

Note: We are obviously going to have to protect women's rights another way. Roe v. Wade is gone, is my opinion. Someone posted that, in polls, 61% support Roe v. Wade. Well, 63% of Americans oppose torturing prisoners UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. Yet we have the torture memo writer as Attorney General--a disgraceful appointment. And 58% of Americans opposed the Iraq war BEFORE the invasion--before all the lies came out. I'll never forget that stat. The Bush Cartel DOESN'T CARE what the majority thinks. They've demonstrated that time and again. And I think it's because they own the election system now. Why should they care?

It is essential that the public regain control of the election system, if we are to do anything at all to protect women's rights or anything else.

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